Adventure awaits

"Adventure awaits" canine and feline fans alike in this brief, exhilarating board book about two pets' suburban explorations. Cole adeptly communicates action with single-word narration as a gray dog awakens ("sunrise") and mirrors the yogic pose of the orange tabby on the facing page ("stretch"), before the two venture out to separately "explore/ examine// inspect/ investigate." Common backyard inhabitants, including a blue jay and squirrel, provide cause for investigation, and when an owl's yellow eyes peer out from a tree trunk, curiosity gives way to a chance to "run!// race!" Safe at what turns out to be a shared home, the four-legged companions' snuggly camaraderie is on full display in a series of bird's-eye-view vignettes. Cole's attention to shadows adds texture to otherwise uncluttered scenes of the duo relishing an energetic outing's discoveries. All ages. (May)

A dog and a cat separately awaken to a day full of promise and an interesting world to explore. Indoors, a gray dog arises from a purple cushion. Elsewhere, a striped, orange tabby leaves its green cushion, performing a quintessentially catlike stretch. Each creature heads outdoors. The dog pauses to check out a butterfly and a bee, then a squirrel sitting on a fence. The cat's fancy is caught by a red watering can, then by two blue jays looking on with wary interest. The dog chases the squirrel, and the cat chases the birds up the same large tree with spreading, leafy branches. Stymied, the two pets gaze at a hollow in the trunk that, frightfully, appears occupied. It is! The occupant--an owl--peers after the cat and dog as they flee. Back home, they return to the safety of their cozy cushions. Readers will enjoy the surprising twist ending, and the sight of a raccoon peering through the glass-paned door promises new adventures. Beautifully crafted, this tale leaves space for children to fill in the story and to practice reading others' emotions and intentions. Are the dog and cat friends? What are they looking for? Do they find it? Did the owl scare them (or vice versa)? Consisting mostly of verbs, the text guides and hints but lets children--like the animal characters--make their own discoveries. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An engaging romp from start to finish. (Board book. 1-4) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.